Fuzzy Arithmetic

Software Environment for Fuzzy Arithmetic

Ruediger Kuhn, Scott Ferson

funded by Deutscher Akademischer Austasch Dienst

Project description

        There are uncertainty propagation problems which are poorly suited for traditional methods such as Monte Carlo simulation because of extremely sparse data sets, ignorance about correlations among variables, or graded definitions of important quantities (how many children have high body burdens of an environmental contaminant depends on what you consider "high"). Fuzzy arithmetic was a developed for such situations as a way to make rigorous calculations without requiring subjective decisions. The Risk Calc software was developed as a part of this project. The following publications describe the work in more detail.

Ferson, S. 1990. Ecological and environmental risk analysis: using computers to estimate impacts and uncertainties. CPSR Newsletter 8:25-28.

Ferson, S. and R. Kuhn. 1992. Propagating uncertainty in ecological risk analysis using interval and fuzzy arithmetic. Computer Techniques in Environmental Studies IV, P. Zannetti (ed.), pp. 387-401, Elsevier Applied Science, London.

Ferson, S. 1993. Using fuzzy arithmetic in Monte Carlo simulation of fishery populations. Proceedings of the International Symposium on Management Strategies for Exploited Fish Populations. Alaska Sea Grant College Program Report No. 93-02, University of Alaska, Fairbanks.

Ferson, S. and R. Kuhn. 1994. Interactive microcomputer software for fuzzy arithmetic. Proceedings of the High Consequence Operations Safety Symposium. J.A. Cooper (ed.), Sandia National Laboratories, SAND94-2364, pp. 493-506. Albuquerque, New Mexico.

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